A quick from Bloemfontein who learnt his trade on the same surfaces that once produced Allan Donald, Duanne Olivier is proof that flat pitches make better bowlers. He is hailed as much for his wicket-taking ability as he for mid-innings control, and has also been known to get some reverse-swing.

Olivier made his first-class debut for Free State at 19, at the end of the 2010-11 summer and played for South Africa's under-19 side in an ODI series in England in 2011. It took him another three years before he was promoted from provincial ranks to the franchise system. Olivier's first appearance for the Knights was in the 2014-15 season and two seasons later, he led their attack.

By then, he had been part of the South African A squad that traveled to Zimbabwe and Australia in the winter of 2016, and was South Africa A's leading bowler in Australia.

Olivier topped the first-class wicket charts midway through the 2015-16 season and was included in a South African Invitation XI to play the touring Sri Lankans in December. He was the pick of the seamers in the drawn match and took 4 for 54.

Three weeks later, he was included in South Africa's squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg in January 2017, after Kyle Abbott was axed over a Kolpak deal. At that point of his career, he had amassed 224 first-class wickets at an impressive average of 21.38. Firdose Moonda